HIALEAH, Fla. – Surveillance video shows a 36-year-old man from Hialeah taking off his belt, lassoing a dog named Rocky and strangling him.

Kenny Amaro appeared in Miami-Dade County court on Thursday and admitted to being the man in the surveillance video.

“I did not kill the animal on purpose,” Amaro said. “It was a dangerous dog; a mean dog. I did not kill the dog. I tried to grab the dog so I could give it back to his owner and the dog started biting my hand.”

Police say after lassoing the dog, Amaro then elevated the dog and began to spin the dog around in a circular motion several times. They said he continued to strangle the dog by pinning it against the ground and then repeating the spinning action.

Oralia Reyes told Local 10 News that Rocky belonged to her brother-in-law and was a calm and loving 1-year-old dog.

No where in the video is the dog seen being aggressive.

His owner was too distraught to speak, but shared pictures and video of Rocky, who was a rescue dog.

Reyes said Rocky was like their child.

Everyone who spoke to told Local 10 News said Rocky was just a playful puppy.

Reyes and other families in the area said they’re now living in fear of Amaro, who’s also their neighbor.

“I tried to save my life like you guys did in 9/11 — you guys went and bombed those people over there,” Amaro said in court.